Depth costs Husky boys as they fall in league soccer standings

The Huskies lost games at Junction City 4-2 and Sisters 4-0 last week as mounting injuries eviscerated their defense in boys soccer.

Junction City, Oct. 10, “was just a big frustration,” said Coach Eric Stutzer. “A team we should’ve beaten. We don’t have anybody to blame but ourselves.”

But depth issues came back into play during that game.

Carlos Galvez was ill and came out of the game early. Noah Webb was out by halftime with a muscle injury, and he’s probably done for the season. Noah Dinsfriend did not play at all due to an injury.

“Again, depth, that’s the huge issue for us,” Stutzer said, and the Huskies were a little flat out of the gate.

Junction City scored three goals in the first 20 minutes, Stutzer said. Those shots were taken from the top of the 18. Junction City would kick the ball out to a midfield shooter while a Sweet Home communications breakdown left the shooter open.

Sweet Home had some good penetration and good looks, and the Huskies scored twice. Zak Fox scored a goal, and then Stewart Curtis scored his first goal of the year to trail 3-2. Junction City scored one more time right before halftime.

“Stewart played a phenomenal game,” Stutzer said. The midfielder was making great feeds and assists all game long.

Rawlins Lupoli played very well on defense, and Owen Towry played a great game, especially in the second half.

The second half, the Huskies spent about 80 percent of the game on offense, Stutzer said. They had five close shots but couldn’t connect with the goal.

“We weren’t capitalizing on the opportunities we had,” he said.

Against Sisters, Webb, Dinsfriend and Brown remained on the sidelines, and Levi Hernandez went out seven minutes into the game with an injury. Zech Brown had a serious injury a little after halftime and is out for the season.

Despite the adversity, “I was pretty happy,” Stutzer said. “I felt like we played them pretty evenly.”

Against Sisters, the Huskies struggled with the same problem they did against Junction City, with a midfield shooter at the top of the 18, Stutzer said. Sisters got ahead 2-0 early in the game.

The Huskies had the penetration and looks again, Stutzer said, but they couldn’t score them.

Sisters scored goals twice more the second half in about five minutes after Brown went off the field.

“That takes the wind out of your sail,” Stutzer said. The Huskies played flat and less aggressively after that.

Stutzer said Curtis and Lupoli both played extremely well during that game, and “Austin Parrish had one of his better games of the season.”

The Huskies have a long-shot to get into playoffs, Stutzer said. “We’re in the realm of miracles.”

They have to win both their games this week, at home against Sutherlin, scheduled for Tuesday, and at Cottage Grove, which has lost no games this season. Cottage Grove has tied just once, and it is fifth in statewide Oregon Student Activities Association rankings.

Wins might give the Huskies, 1-4-3, a shot at a fourth-seed playoff spot.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question,” Stutzer said. “If everybody steps up, we could give them a run for their money.”

The team’s ability and talent is there, he said. “Everybody has to be clicking to do it.”

The Huskies are fifth in league behind Junction City, 2-4-2; Elmira, 3-3-2; Sisters, 6-2; and Cottage Grove, 8-0. Sutherlin, 0-7-1, is in last place.

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